Jar-wrench.



F. T. MURRAY.

[JAR WRENCH. 4 APPLICATION FILED -:unr 2B. 1915-.

1 206,129, I Patented Nov. 28,1916,

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FRANCIS THOMAS MURRAY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

J IKE-WRENCH.

Specification of Letters Patent Patented Nov 28, 1916,

Application filed July 28, 1915. Serial No. 42,239.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, FRANCIS THOMAS MURRAY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have made certain new and useful Improvements in Jarrenches, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a device adapted to frictionally grip the cap of a jar or other container for the purpose of rotating the cap with relation to the jar.

One of the objects of the invention is to produce an improved device of this character which. will grip the cap in either direction so that the device may be used to screw the cap either on or oil the jar.

Another object is to produce a device which is extremely simple and durable in construction and which may be very cheaply manufactured.

In the accompanying'drawings, Figure 1 is a fragmental elevational view of a jar and cap having associated therewith a wrench embodying the features of my invention, the wrench appearing in edge elevation. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the cap and wrench showing the position of the gripper jaws at the time of associating the wrench with the cap. Fig. 3 is a similar view illustrating the position taken by the jaws when the wrench is operated to turn the cap in a clockwise direction. Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 but showing a slightly modified form of the clamping jaws.

In the drawings A indicates a fragment of a jar and B a cap therefor, the jar and cap having cooperating screw threads C.

The preferred embodiment of my invention herein disclosed comprises a suitable handle 5 and two jaws 6 and 7, independently pivoted to one end of said handle intermediate the ends of said jaws. In the form herein shown the jaws extend trans versely to the handle and are secured thereto by rivets 8 which are substantially alined lengthwise of the handle, the rivets permitting pivotal movement of the jaws with respect to the handle. The opposite ends of each jaw have angular gripping fingers 9, which may be in the form of arcuate flanges, adapted to frictionally grip the periphery of a jar cap B. The handle and jaws are of such form that they can be conveniently stamped out of sheet-metal.

The adjacent edge portions of the jaws are, roughly speaking, of generally convex form, said edge portions abutting against each other and providing bearing surfaces adapted to slide in contact. In the form shown in Figs. 2 and 3 the bearing edge on each jaw comprises two projections 10 with an intervening depression 11, while in the form shown in Fig. 4 the bearing surfaces are on a straight line 12. In the construction illustrated in Fig. 4, when the jaws are in the intermediate position (such as is shown in Fig. 2), the bearing surfaces 12 are out of contact with each other. \Vhen one of the jaws is turned in a given direction, the bearing edge 12 .on that jawis forced againstthe bearing edge 12 of the other jaw, thereby swinging said other jaw in the same direction. When both bearing edges 12 are in full contact, as shown in Fig. 4, further turning movement in the given direction is impossible. The action of the curved projections 10 is essentially the same as that of the edges 12, but owing to the curvature of the projections 10 the j aws may be turned through a somewhat greater angle than in the construction shown in Fig. 4:. The arrangement is such that when either of the jaws is moved with respect to the other, as when the handle is swung in the act of rotating a cap, the other aw will be correspondingly moved. 7

The generally convex contour of the adjacent edges of the jaws results in the proper spacing of the gripping fingers at the two adjacent ends of the jaws, the series of gripping fingers being thus positioned at suitable distances around the periphery of the cap. A I V In associating the wrench with a jar cap the jaws are set down loosely over the cap and, if desired, the handle may be moved longitudinally to bring the two gripping fingers 9 of one jaw into engagement with the periphery of the cap B. The handle is now swung to one side or the other depending upon whether it is desired to loosen or tighten the cap, and in this movement the other jaw is carried endwise to bring the finger at one end thereof into gripping engagement with the periphery of the cap,

the opposite finger on the latter jaw being carried farther away from the periphery. In this way a three-point bearing on the cap may be obtained if desired. At any rate the edgewise movement of the handle will cause the gripping fingers at opposite ends of the two jaws to approach each other and clamp the cap between them; Continued rotation of the handle (the jar A being firmly held) will cause the cap to rotate with the wrench and the greater the resistance ofiered by the cap the greater will be the frictional binding engagement of the jaws on the cap.

It will thus be seen that a very powerful wrench is provided and that it is equally effective for either tightening or loosening a cap.

The invention is not limited to the precise form herein disclosed, but embraces all modifications and equivalent structures falling within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A wrench of the character described comprising a handle, a pair of plate-like jaws disposed transversely to the handle, and each independently pivoted between its ends to the handle, the two pivotal centers of the jaws being substantially alined in a direction lengthwise of the handle, each jaw having its opposite ends bent at an angle to provide gripping flanges, and the midportions of the two jaws being arranged to bear against each other to turn the jaws.

A wrench of the character described comprising a rigid handle, two jaws extend ing transversely to said handle and each independently pivoted between its ends to the handle, each jaw having angular gripping fingers at opposite ends, and the adj acent edges of the said jaws being arranged to slide in contact with each other to turn the jaws.

3. A wrench of the character described comprising a handle, two gripping jaws each having gripping elements at opposite ends, said gripping jaws being mounted on the handle and having abutting faces which cause relative movement of the jaws when the handle is swung in either direction whereby the wrench will grip a cap to rotate the latter in either direction.

a. A wrench comprising a rigid handle and two jaws arranged to overlie a jar cap,

In testimony whereof, I hereunto set my hand in the presence of a Witness.

FRANCIS THOMAS MURRAY. In the presence of C. PAUL PARKER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

7 Washington, D. G. 

